As soon as Caster's master had left the room, master immediately closed the door again, and slammed a black key back into it. The webbing of green light spread out across the room before yet again vanishing.

"You never mentioned trying to forge an alliance with him" master seethed, shouting.

"That was because it was a last-minute thought" I admitted calmly. "I hadn't expected the man to be able to act civil to such a degree, even if it was just an act. Beyond that though, even you cannot deny that this man, despite not being a magus, could very well end up being the biggest obstacle we face. The way his mind works; his rational, his ability to piece things together… it would be a very useful tool against Saber, Lancer, Archer, and Assassin. What is that saying used in the modern day… 'keep your friends close, and your enemies closer', I believe."

"You call how he ended that civil?!"

"He questioned your doctrine" I shook my head. "He did not mock it. Is questioning now a forbidden act? I did not realize questions were now blasphemous; is it not the job of people like you to answer the questions of the masses, provide them assurance and guidance, and ultimately return them to the 'correct' path?"

"Oh, forget this pointless debate! Just set a few assassins on him and end it!"

"I will do no such thing" I scowled at my master, who was now seated across the table from me. "For one, that man has my word, and I will not break it. Second, he has not interfered with any of my fights. He is still a civilian, and I will not kill civilians."

"You forget your place! I am the master here, not you, Saladin!"

"You forget how limited that power of yours is" I retorted. "Three command spells are not enough for you to do this."

"…Enlighten me then, o wise Sultan…" master hissed.

"Your first command spell would need to be used to order me to kill him. Your second would need to be used to order me to not kill you. Your third would need to be used to prevent me from killing myself. At which point, you have lost your authority over me, and I will no longer acknowledge you as my master, thus breaking the contract. You will lose this war before Caster's master is even remotely in danger of dying at my hands."

"You would lose everything too; there are no free masters out there. There is no one who you could forge a new contract with."

"That is fine. I can accept defeat in this war, if it means I maintain my civility. Can you say the same, master?"

Bang!

"Damn you, Rider" master pounded the table with his fist, before going deathly silent. "…This is the last time something like this occurs. Am I making myself clear, Rider?"

"Crystal" I nodded in acknowledgement. "I thank you, master, for allowing me the opportunity to speak to that man."

"Make sure it was worth it" master growled as he stood up. "The next time we meet him, he burns, even if you won't do anything to help."

"Consider it done."

With that, master removed the black key from the door and, after a couple of seconds, left the room, locking it behind him. Not that it could keep me in; spirit form allowed me to simply pass through the wall whenever I desired. It was only to keep this Father Gallo out long enough so I could shift into spirit form before he entered. While this was a good location to claim as a base of operations, it would not do if killing a civilian was required for it.

But why did that not work…

The dialogue had seemingly gone better than I had ever predicted it could have. I even tested the extent to my subtle influence over his thoughts; successfully called him back and compelled him to sit back down. So how was it that he was able to decline the alliance so easily?

Considering Caster is his servant, it is possible Caster has gone to great lengths that the master doesn't know about, to protect his mind against magical influences, I suppose. Only makes sense that Caster would probably want that peace of mind, considering the master isn't even a magus. Yet… I had felt no magic radiating off the man, and neither did master… Meaning either Caster is very talented; likely originating from the age of gods, or…

"Could that level of civility, bordering that used by close comrades towards the end with me, truly be purely an act?"

If Caster has not done anything to enhance his master's mental defenses, then Proof of Friendship should have secured that alliance easily, even if it was only ranked C for me.

"He's not a magus; he couldn't have known about the skill in advanced. It's not 'visible' in the senses required for him to analyze it with his methods, being all visual based."

Were he a servant, I would have pegged it at him having a high rank of Mental Corruption and left it at that. But he wasn't a servant.

No matter how I spin my web, you will dismantle it, for you yourself have spun the exact same webs, have you not?

I have spun the same webs as you, man of half-truths, lies, deception and deceit? I would think not! In fact, reflecting on the mere notion that we were alike in that regard was gravely insul-

"…No, change the perspective…" I caught myself muttering under my breath.

I was thinking of this from my end. I had to see this from his end. As one who stood against the notion of 'God', it would only stand to believe that extended to all depictions of any and all gods ever prayer to by humans.

"…Including Allah…"

What had he called me earlier? A champion of the Islamic faith… As a champion, it would only follow that I upheld the scriptures and words, just like-

"So, that is the web of half-truths, lies, deception and deceit you claim I weaved… From where you stand, it would make perfect sense, wouldn't it…?"

So then, it wasn't protection from Caster. Nor was it a skill like the ones us servants possess. Yet, in a sense, it was a skill: a very powerful skill, similar in nature to Mental Corruption…

"For whatever reasons you have, you would never agree to work alongside me, with or without my master, simply because you will always stand against Allah, regardless of all other circumstances, because you reject the notion of 'God' so assuredly…"

Then Proof of Friendship wouldn't affect anything, even at EX rank, I suspect. Civility and friendship were not equivalent; one could be civil with a sworn enemy. That was what had occurred; civility was maintained, and pleasantry was felt, but even the tiniest seedling of friendship had failed to plant itself. It wouldn't matter how friendly his mind interpreted me being; it was merely civility to him. In short, it was meaningless; an act to leverage control over the situation at hand and appear your best possible, based on the beliefs and ideals of those around you, rather than your own.

"…This way of thinking everything out, from all possibilities and viewpoints… This is what you do as well, isn't it…?" I couldn't help a slightly wistful smile forming on my face. "Yes, you would have been an exceptional ally for this war… and now I see just how terrifying an enemy you will be…"

If Caster was someone who knew how to use others, then, even with the master being useless in the conventional senses for a Holy Grail War, Caster may very well be the greatest threat in this war.

And I still don't know where Caster is hiding…

In a lot of respects, I found myself wishing that man now had Assassin as his servant, rather than Caster. Especially since Caster has used their Noble Phantasm, yet hasn't required more command spells than one, or has revealed themselves. Who cares if Assassin has a lower magical energy upkeep on masters? I had experience dealing with assassins. Mages, on the other hand… that would be new; new was troublesome.

"…There is also the matter of your newly found wish…"

To claim it would have broken the agreement of civility to even mention it meant it could only be severe. Massive.

Thus, either God is not perfect, and thus not actually a god, but a Divine Spirit, just like the ones you dismissed as not being actual gods, or… God is not merciful, and therefore has no reason as to why he should be worshipped outside of fear as a motivator. Either way, your God is not worth following, so why should anyone follow?

I reflected on these words he had said, taking everything else I had heard and knew about the man into consideration. He plays civil well, but is openly antagonistic to those of the faith when civility is not a requirement of him. He seeks amusement and beauty… whatever that is supposed to mean to him.

"…He has a 'fun' idea for a wish…" I furrowed my brow, deep in thought. "He knows the grail can still grant wishes, even if it is not omnipotent, by actualization…"

A thought occurred to me in a mere few moments. I felt first shock, then… anger. Anger I hadn't felt in a long time; not since my last dealing with Templars. A 'fun' idea indeed, for him and him alone! To dare attempt such a thing though; he couldn't!

It's not so much a question of can or can't, so much as it is will or won't, when it comes to what I do…

"…He would! That infidel would do such a thing" I slammed a fist against the table reflexively, lost in my internal rage. "How dare he even entertain such a notion! He shall- …No… No, you will have your chance to explain yourself…"

I found myself rising to my feet, unable to sit any longer. I had no idea where master went, but it didn't matter; he would be fine here, and I needed space to clear my head; quell this internal rage.

"One chance, next we meet. You will get that much, and only that much..."

Shifting into spirit form, I walked through the wall of the room and reappeared outside, greeted by the afternoon sun.

If you prove my suspicion correct though, then master is right: you will burn for your heresy!